Optimal batting orders in cricket

Abstract

Cricket teams are usually listed on the scoreboard in expected batting order, and although captains can choose to send in any of the remaining batsmen when a wicket falls, they rarely depart from the usual batting order. By optimizing a simplified model using dynamic programming, this paper shows that in all forms of cricket significant increases in expected score result if captains allow a variable batting order and base their decision on the state of the game, rather than using a set batting order.

Keywords:

• dynamic programming
• sports
• cricket
• batting order